What Are EV Charging Level 3(DC Fast Charge)?

Here's a quick guide to the terms to know and three EV charging levels you need to know.

Charging levels L1, L2, and L3 are three general terms that refer to how fast you can charge your EV battery.

Level 3 Charging(DC Fast Charge) Explained

Level 3 chargers(DC Fast Charge) are the fastest EV chargers available. They typically run on 480 V or 1,000 V and aren’t typically found at home. They’re better suited to high-traffic areas, such as highway rest stops and shopping and entertainment districts, where the vehicle can be recharged in less than an hour.

Level 3 chargers are not universally compatible and there is no industry standard. Currently, the three main types are Superchargers, SAE CCS (Combined Charging System), and CHAdeMO (a riff on “Would you like a cup of tea,” in Japanese).

Superchargers work with certain Tesla models, SAE CCS chargers work with certain European EVs, and CHAdeMO works with certain Asian EVs. However, some vehicles and chargers may be cross-compatible with adapters.

Level 3 charging stations generally start at 50 kW and go up from there. The CHAdeMO standard, for example, works up to 400 kW and has a 900-kW version in development. Tesla Superchargers typically charge at 72 kW, but some are capable of up to 250 kW. Such high power is possible because L3 chargers skip the OBC and its limitations, directly DC-charging the battery.

Maxwell team launched 50kw@1000V AC/DC charging module at the end of 2022, which will better support the Level 3 chargers-DC fast charger to reach a higher output power easily.